I had been watching these trees along a Vermont brook for a long time, knowing there was a good photo if I was there at the right time. The long winter had left a couple of feet of snow on the ground and a heavy rain created interesting patterns in the snow two days before I made this picture. A fox or coyote walked down to the trees from higher up the hill, I imagine to look for food. The tracks are highlighted by shadows created by the low morning sun.